Eurovision Semi Final 2 Betting Tips: Netherlands 1/4 to win
With Eurovision in full swing, last night's spectacle in Malom showcased 15 acts vying for glory. Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland, and Luxembourg dazzled, securing coveted final slots. While Ireland made history, the UK struggled to make an impact.
As we head into the second round of the semi-finals on Thursday night, showbiz specialist, Kayley Cornelius takes a look at the countries leading the way and who to look out for…
Eurovision Semi Final 2 Betting Tips
- Netherlands 1/4 to win
It’s going to take some Dutch courage to compete with Joost Klein on Thursday night as he leads the way going into night two of the semi-finals. Despite the Netherlands depreciating odds in the outright market this week – Joost Klein still has strong support from his country, and remains a firm favourite amongst Eurovision fans.
The Dutch artist appears to have grabbed the attention of everyone who sits on the Eurovision side of the internet as his catchy entry song to the competition ‘Europapa’ continues to be a trending hit online, and his ambiguous posts about his upcoming performance rack up hundreds of thousands of views.
Up until now, Joost has remained rather secretive about his grand plans for his show but has promised a big delivery that encapsulates the fun and spirit of the competition. As many viewers eagerly await to see what the Netherlands have in store for Thursday night, if they manage to live up to expectations, they’re definitely going to be hard to beat.
While the odds currently swing heavily in the Netherland’s favour for victory tomorrow night, the lack of certainty surrounding what to actually expect from their performance has made them appear as a riskier option for many punters.
The Netherland’s odds started to decline after snippets from the rehearsals aired online and users were quick to criticise Joost’s vocals, with many fearing they were not up to the same standard as the rest of the competition. If these issues transpire into tomorrow evening, it could spell trouble for the Netherland’s and open the door for other firm favourites, Switzerland, to come in and sweep that victory away.
Switzerland’s Nemo has been a hit with Eurovision fans this year and is currently second favourite in the betting markets to win outright. As Switzerland looks to bridge the gap between them and Croatia, there’s no doubt Nemo will be bringing his A-game.
Who to keep your eye on?
Greece has been creeping up in the betting markets in recent weeks. Originally priced at 50/1 to win the competition when the markets first opened, they are now priced at 25/1 to win tomorrow night and 16/1 to qualify for the final.
Representing Greece this year is Maria Satti with her song ‘Zari’, and after performing strong in the technical rehearsals, we witnessed a sharp increase in punters backing her to win as she proved her performance was one not to be missed, and I have no doubt Greece will be joining the rest in the finals this weekend.
While Armenia are yet to actually win a year at Eurovision, they have made the final 12 out of the 15 years that they have been participating, and they’re looking more than on track to qualify again this year in Malmo.
Representing the country this year are Ladniva with their track Jako which draws inspiration from traditional Balkan melodies to the rhythms of maloya, jazz and reggae. The duo's songs have been said to transcend borders, blending traditional Armenian tunes with inspirations taken from their extensive travels across Latin America, Africa and Réunion Island which brings a fresh style and innovation to the competition.
